Middlesbrough star fooled after donating shirts to impostor

Middlesbrough striker Álvaro Negredo is reportedly one of the Spanish footballers who were fooled by a man claiming to be raising money for a good cause.

Negredo helped Paco Sanz, who claimed to suffer from Cowden’s syndrome and to have over two thousand tumours through his body.

The Middlesbrough player donated his own football jerseys and even posed wearing a shirt with Sanz’ website to help the cause.

Jerseys were auctioned as the criminal’s intention was to raise about €100k. He said he’d treat his disease in the United States.

According to Radio Antena 3 (via Spanish newspaper Sport), Paco Sanz was arrested in Spain for the crimes of fraud, misappropriation and money laundering.

Sport claims that players such as Juan Carlos Valerón and David Navarro, as well as clubs such as Atletico Madrid and Sevilla, had all found a way to help Sanz, mostly donating and auctioning shirts for him to get the money.